"It is clear from the drawings that children arrive in school with strong assumptions based on their own day-to-day experiences," said Mr Schleicher.

Image caption
Vets were a popular choice for a job, particularly for girls

"The findings have implications for all of us seeking to improve social mobility," said David Cruickshank, global chairman of Deloitte and chair of trustees for Education and Employers.

"Children's career aspirations are most influenced by who they know," he said.

Anne Lyons, president of the National Association of Head Teachers, said it showed how hard it was for young people to "break the mould" of their families' expectations.

Nick Chambers, chief executive of Education and Employers, said it showed the need for children in primary school to hear about the "vast range of career options open to them and are not ruling things out at an early age".